Glass feeder



June 9, 1931. T. sTENHoUsE GLAS S FEEDER Filed July 8. 1927 atto/:Meyn

Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS STENHOUSF, OFYWASHINGION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HAZEL-ATLAS GLASS COMPANY, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, A. CORPORATION OF WFS'I" VIRGINIA.

GLASS FEEDER Application led uly 8, 1927. Serial No..204,233.

The invention relates to that type of glass lfeeder' in which the air pressure on the surface of the glass is alternately increased and decreased,ito thereby accelerate and retard or stopv the flow of glass, to form shaped gobs or charges, which are severed in the well known manner, and drop into molds to be formed into articles.

It is old, of course, to form shaped, suspended gobsr by means of variations in the pressure on the Vglass surface, but one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for producing this variation 1n pressure, which will be more effective, in that the means will be associated immediately with the flow spout, as distinguished from the prior constructions in which thevair pressure controlling means is located at some distance from the ow spout and communicates therewith by means of anpipe or tube.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a glass feeder of vthis character with improved means for increasing the effect of the pressure and vacuum by causing the pressure and vacuum to act solely on the glass within the pressure chamber, that is, toprevent the force of the pressure and vacuum from being dissipated on the vglass between the pressure chamber and the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rglass feeder of this character with improved means for maintaining the glass in the pressure chamber at a predetermined level, inde endently of the level or variations in the leve of the glass in the How spout and tank.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable timing mechanism for regulating and con- 40 trollingthe o eration of the various valves of feeders or orming machines.

Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, when taken vin connection with the accompanying dra-wings; in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the feeder mechanism, together with a portion of the conventionalI flow spout. l Figure 2 is a side view of the 'timing mechanism; parts being in section; and

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the timing mechanism; parts beingV broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, numeral l indicates the casing of a conventional flow spout 2, having the usualcover 3.

`The flow spout is mounted on and communica tes with the melting tank in accordance with the ordinary-constructions; and needless to say, there are a pluralityvof these iiow spouts for each melting tank. The flow spout 1s, of course, formed of efractory material, and is preferably provid.A d with an outer layer of suitable heat insulating material 4. The flow spout is also provided with the usual burners (not shown). A dividing Wall 5 is transversely arranged lin the flow spout, dividing it into two separate portions, and that portion of which is associated with the feeder, I term the pressure chamber, which chamber is indicated by numeral 6. Communication between the pressure chamber and the remainder of the flow spout is provided by means of the port 7 in the dividing Wall 5; the port being controlledl by a gate to be hereinafter described.

While I have shown a packing of heat insulating material around the end of the How spout constituting the pressure chamber, y

yet it will be understood that, if desired, this heat insulating material may be spaced fromy the wall of the pressure chamber to form a muiile oven, thereby providing additional means forcontrolling the temperature of the glass inthe pressure chamber.

Numeral 8 indicates the vusual iiow orifice, having the Ordinar bushing 9. In accordance with the established practice, these bushings are removable and are of various sizes according to the ware bein manufactured. Arranged below the iow ori ce are shears 10,

for severing the formed .charges or gobs,`

which then drop into molds to be formed into various` articles. The shears are merely illustrated diagrammatically, as they are well known in the glass industry, and are preferably operated by the usual air cylinder (not shown).

As stated hereinbefore, it is common knowledge to feed suspended formed glass erably provided with a flange 13 which rests on the cover and is secured thereto by bolts. A piston 14 is slidablymounted for vertical reciprocation in the cylinder 12, to'produce an alternatesuction and pressure. ton 14 is carried by a piston rod 15 which is connected at its upper end to the piston 16 of cylinder 17. Air lines 18 and 19 lead to the top and bottom, respectively; of the cylinder 17, and each of the air lines is preferably provided with an ad'ustable check valve 20 adjacent the cylin er. I check valves may be arranged to regulate leither the admission or the exhaust of the motive fluid, in the Well known manner, to regulaite the speed of travel of thepiston 16, as well as to provide 'a cushioning eli'ect therefor. It will be understood, of course, that the timing shaft controls the valves which permit the motive fluid to be admitted to or exhausted'fromfthe air lines 18 and ,edbolt or rod, which may be screwed into the cylinder to the desired extent.

The downward movement of the piston 14 will inc asel the pressure in the pressure chamber, thfereby accelerating the gravity flow of glass through the flow orifice; an movement ofthe piston in the opposite direction will retard or stop the flow of glass; the charge being thus formed in the well known manner, is severed and drops into a mold. But in the particular feeder disclosed herein, the pressure and vacuum generating means is immediately associated with the `pressure chamber of the ilow spout, and it Will therefore be apparent that the action produced by the variations in pressure Will'be Amore eifective, and that therefore the size, shape and weight of the gobs may be more sensitively controlled.

As stated hereinbefore, another advantage of the present invention resi-des in the rovision ofmeans for preventing the disslpax tion of the force produced by the alternate ressure and vacuum in the pressure chamr; and to retain the glass in the pressure chamber at a predetermined level, irrespective of the level or variations in the level, of the glass in the flow spout or tank. To

accomplish these fimctions, I have provided These adj u'stable7 mission and exhaust of air in these linesis controlled by 'an adjustable timing mechanism. In the preferred operation, the gate 21 will temporarily close the port 7 to shut oli communication between the pressure chamber and the remainder of the flow spout, while pressure is being applied toaccelerate -the flow of glass through the flow orifice, and

when the vacuum is initially ap lied to retard or stop the flow of glass lt rough the flow spout. In this mannerthe effect of the pressure and vacuum will be applied only to the Glass in the pressure chamber, and will not be dissipated throughout the remainder of the flow spout. After the vacuum has been initially applied to retard, stop, or retract the iow of glass through the flow orifice, the gate 2l will be opened to permit a uantity of glass to flow into the pressure c am, ber, equal in volume to the amount of glass which has just been expelled as a charge through the iiow orifice.

The above is merely a description of one 1 manner of operation, for the pressure and vacuum means 1s controlled independently of the gate, and it will therefore be apparent that instead of havin the gate closed when the pressure is applie the gate may be open' or partly open, or-it may be opeln part of the time the pressure is being applied and closed part of that time. And likewise instead of aving' the gate closed when the vacuum is initially applied, it may be open or partly open; and it may be opened or closed at any desired time during the pressure applying d period, or during thevacuum applying period. Iny other words', by the entirely independent control of the ate and the pneumatic feeder I obtain a exibility of operation which gives an unusually wide control of the weight, shape and size, of the charges.

The timing mechanism will now be described, reference being had particularly to Figures 2 and 3.

Numeral 27 indicates an ordinary timing shaft, having a series of cams 28 mounted thereon. The cams are preferably secured to the shaft by means of set screws 29; and While I have illustrated six of the cams, it will be understood that the number may be greater or less, depending'on the particular requirements. v Numeral 30 indicates a caslng provided with six arcuate guide ways 31,

l one foreach cam; the arcuate guide ways be- 32, and secured to each block is a valve casing 33. Each valve casing is provided With the usual valve seat 84, valve 35 and valve stem j 36, the latter cooperating with its associated cam in the usual manner. Each valve is also provided with two ports 37, one of which is connected by piping or tubing with a source of compressed air, and the other of which is connected with one end of a cylinder to operated.

Any suitable means may be employed lfor independently adjusting the slide blocks, and the valves carried thereby, in the arcuate slides. In the specic form shown herein I employ a rod 38 for each slide block; each rod having an eye 39 at its end, by which it is pivl otally connected to the under side of a block by means of a pin 40. The rods are threaded, and mounted on each rod is a nut 41; each nut being vertically slidable in an appropriate slot 42 in the casing or housing 30. By this means each valve casing is independently adjustable through a large are.

The operation of this timing mechanism will nbe understood Yfrom the foregoing description of the-preferred construction, but it may be brieiiy described as follows:

The valves are connected in the usual manner with the cylinder to be operated, and will alternately admit and exhaust the compressed air at opposite end of the cylinders. The cams will be set on the shaft 27 to operate the valves in the proper sequence. If`

now it is desired to change the time of opening or closing any particular valve, it is only necessary for the operator to rotate the screw 4l, of the particular valve to be adjusted, in the proper direction and to the proper extent, to thereby move the valve in relation to its cam, and thereby causing the cam to act on the valve either earlier or later. The above described mechanism constitutes a very simple and eicient device for timing the operation of valves, and while I have described the device in connection with the particular feeder disclosed herein, it will be understood that it is adapted for use in connection with any feeder or forming machine which employs cylinders for the operation of any of its elements. ,l It has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate the connections between the valves and the cylinders, as these connections are made in the usual and well known manner.

I [aving fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A glass feeder including a flow spout having a iow orifice, a pressure chamber associated with the flow orifice, an open-ended cylinder associated with and forming in eifect an extension of said pressure chamber, and a piston reciprocable in said cylinder for producing variations in pressure'in the pressure chamber, to alternately accelerate and retard the flow of glass through the flow orice.

I 2. A glass feeder including a iow spout having a flow orifice, a pressure chamber associated with the flow orifice, an open-ended `cylinder associated with and forming in effect an extension of said pressure chamber, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder for producing variations of pressure in the pressure chamber, and a piston and cylinder for operating the first-mentioned piston.

3. A timing mechanism including a rotatable shaft, cams mounted on said shaft, guideways arranged concentrically of said shaft, a valve mounted for sliding movement in each of said guideways, and means for independently adjusting each valve in its guideway.

4. A timing mechanism including a shaft having a plurality of cams, guideways arranged concentrically of the shaft, a plurality of valves arranged concentrically of said cams in said guideways, means for causing relative rotary movement between the .cams and the valves, and means for adjust- THOMAS sTENHoUsE. 

